[DisCHORDDubstep]

Well, actually if anyone knows of another vintage pair that is good that can be found for 40$ or less, tell me. I prefer open back.

 

[Moolok]

Well, actually if anyone knows of another vintage pair that is good that can be found for 40$ or less, tell me. I prefer open back.

There's a few Leslie W2 steteophones on eBay right now. I have a pair and they are pretty nice. I have posted a pic of my pair on this thread.

 

[BucketInABucket]

Well, actually if anyone knows of another vintage pair that is good that can be found for 40$ or less, tell me. I prefer open back.

The Koss HV/1 series can usually be bought for under $40 and were apparently really good for their time. I've got an OEM of the HV/1A plus according to Takato14 - the Diamond Stylus SH-700 - that I got for really cheap coming my way so I can give you sound impressions once they arrive if you want.

Spoiler: One of the seller's pictures.

 

[DisCHORDDubstep]

Any orthos? And what are these??? http://m.ebay.com/itm/351081825336?nav=SEARCH

 

[Ishcabible]

The HP3 isn't too hard to find under $40. Heck, I kind of want to get rid of mine to free some space but they're still better than most portables I've used.

 

[kleptolia]

I have a pair of HV/1 I bought new around 1971/72 while in high school. They still sound pretty good with my Valhalla headphone amp. You can still buy new foam ear pads directly from Koss for abouy $5

The ear pads are already new. The guy had replaced them, listened to them for a couple hours to test them, and then sold them. He likes bigger, around the ear style phones.

 

[GREQ]

Any orthos? And what are these??? http://m.ebay.com/itm/351081825336?nav=SEARCH

Those are more than likely dynamics. (saw an almost identical one somewhere else on headfi opened up)

 

[DisCHORDDubstep]

Any open back orthos? And can old orthos be driven by an e11?

 

[BucketInABucket]

Any open back orthos? And can old orthos be driven by an e11?

Most orthos are closed-back with a vented housing but some can be modded to be open-back and still sound good. Orthos require far far more power than the E11 can ever provide them; I suggest getting a vintage receiver if you plan to buy orthos, or at least have an amp good enough for them.

 

[DisCHORDDubstep]

Most orthos are closed-back with a vented housing but some can be modded to be open-back and still sound good. Orthos require far far more power than the E11 can ever provide them; I suggest getting a vintage receiver if you plan to buy orthos, or at least have an amp good enough for them.

well... I have an old stereo system from the 1980's that can put 80 watts into speakers, and I think it also amps the headphones??? How about electrostats? Can they be used with an e11?

 

[BucketInABucket]

well... I have an old stereo system from the 1980's that can put 80 watts into speakers, and I think it also amps the headphones??? How about electrostats? Can they be used with an e11?

That old system will probably work. Probably. Electrostats...they require a special electrostatic amp, they can't be powered from a bog-standard amp. 

 

[DisCHORDDubstep]

I thought that stax was the only electrostat that needed a weird amp... Akg k340's don't need a weird amp, and those are part electrostat.

 

[BucketInABucket]

I thought that stax was the only electrostat that needed a weird amp... Akg k340's don't need a weird amp, and those are part electrostat.

No, every electrostat requires an electrostat amp, from the Koss ESP950 to the Stax 009. The AKGs don't need an electrostat amp as they're not part electrostat but instead part electret which is a different driver principle although similar to the electrostat driver principle. Regardless, if you want them to sound good they do still need gobs of power due to the electret part of the 340.

---

This came in the mail today.

Looks really pretty! Shame they sound terrible though.

This is why. Instead of the famous Koss HV/1 driver, they're using a crappy old paper-cone driver. Godammitschiit.

Close-up of the driver. 50mm diameter and I didn't bother measuring the impedance.

 

[DisCHORDDubstep]

Ok... Is there an electret headphone that can be driven with e11??

 

[BucketInABucket]

Ok... Is there an electret headphone that can be driven with e11??

Nope, absolutely not, especially when the E11 has difficulty even driving the HD600. Most people recommend speaker amps to drive electrets anyways, they take around the same amount or even more power than orthos.